Picture books are very important for young kids who are just learning to read. They have engaging illustrations, information and interesting stories that help children understand and love books. In this blog post, we will talk about why picture books are such great early literacy tools and suggest some good ones for different ages.
Why Picture Books are Great:
- Pictures Bring Stories to Life: The images in picture books make the stories more fun and easy to understand. They help kids imagine the story and become curious about it. Images also provide a great opportunity to talk to your child about the book. Ask what’s happening in the illustration, find recurring pictures and what they think about the images.
Help with Language
Because pictures help support children’s understanding, picture books often include more advanced vocabulary and a more complex story structure. This increases language learning opportunities and makes the stories more interesting for both children and parents.
- Understand Stories Better: The combination of text and pictures in picture books helps kids make connections between the words and the images. It also helps them predict what might happen next in the story.
- Cover a Wide Variety of Topics: There is a picture book on almost any topic you can imagine. Some are funny, some are informational, but all will help your child learn about the world and help you and your child discover what interests them.
Choosing the Right Picture Books for Different Ages
- Babies and Toddlers (0-2 years): Pick sturdy board books with simple pictures and few words. Look for books about everyday things, animals and sounds. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell are good choices.
- Preschoolers (3-5 years): Go for picture books with fun stories that encourage kids to participate and explore. Books with rhymes and interactive elements are great. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle are popular options. Or try a non-fiction picture book. Byron Barton has some great books including, Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs,
Machines at Work and Building A House. - Early Elementary (6-8 years): Choose longer picture books with more complex stories. Look for books that make kids think and have interesting characters. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats are good examples.
Tips for Enjoyable Reading
- Get Involved: Ask questions and discuss the story with your child as you read. Encourage them to point out things in the pictures.
- Use Different Voices: Make reading exciting by varying your tone for different characters and including sound effects.
- Connect to Real Life: Relate the story to your child's experiences or emotions. It helps them connect with the story.
- Extend the Fun: After reading, do activities like drawing or acting out scenes from the book. It makes the story more memorable and encourages creativity.
Where to Find More Picture Books
- Edmonton Public Library: Visit your local branch and explore their picture book section. Librarians can guide you toward age-appropriate titles and recommend new releases. We also have several booklists online and are always adding more. Check out our Kids 0-5 webpage for booklists for younger kids - Kids 0-5 | Edmonton Public Library (epl.ca) – and Kids 6-12 for older - Kids 6-12 | Edmonton Public Library (epl.ca).
- Online Book Lists: Websites like Goodreads, Reading Rockets and Common Sense Media have book lists with summaries and reviews.
- Parenting Blogs: Look for blogs that focus on children's books and early literacy. No Time For Flash Cards and Imagination Soup are good options.
Remember, reading picture books is not only educational but also a great way to bond with your child and create wonderful memories. By making picture books a part of your daily routine, you can help your child develop a love for reading and succeed in learning.
Enjoy reading together!
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